Smoke producing display device



y 1959 J. M. MURRAY 2,885,807

SMOKE PRODUCING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 24, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 l iI I 49 W m IT I i L: l 3/ l E a A T Z2 M I 1 f 24 o I 8 54 '1 1 i i g 1266 I I 0 1 i7; 6 22 I I I 64 G l Q "I Q 7 f I; INVENTOR. Ct- JOHN M.MURRAY I BY 5 I! W M y 12, 1959 J. M. MURRAY 2,885,807

SMOKE PRODUCING DISPLAY DEVICE Filed June 24, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet z May12, 1959 Filed June 24, 1957 J. M. MURRAY SMOKE PRODUCING DISPLAY DEVICE3 Sheets-Sheet 3 United States Patent 2,885,807 SMOKE PRODUCING DISPLAYDEVICE John M. Murray, Bloomfield, Conn., assignor to Grant- Murray,1110., Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application June24, 1957, Serial No. 667,626 9 Claims. 01. 40106.22)

This invention relates to mechanism or apparatus for producing smoke orthe illusion of smoke, and a structure provided in accordance with theinvention comprises a small scale display model of a home or otherbuilding and the structure is operated and displayed to more forciblyacquaint the public with the danger of fire and with the desirability ofproper fire protection.

It is the general object of the invention to provide apparatus of theaforedescribed type which is safe and foolproof in operation and whichcan be operated for long periods of time without maintenance orattendance and which can be operated for timed cycles to show in aneye-catching manner a model home which periodically catches fire or, byillusion, seems to catch fire and burn.

The drawings show a vention and such embodiment will be described, butit will be understood that various changes may be made from theconstruction disclosed, and that the drawings and description are not bebe construed as defining or limiting the scope of the invention, theclaims forming a part of this specification being relied upon for thatpurpose.

Of the drawings, r

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a small scale display model homeconstructed in accordance with the present invention and wherein thesmoke producing apparatus and mechanism of the invention isincorporated;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the smoke producing apparatus incorporatedin the construction of the base of the model home shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken as indicated by the line 3-3of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the apparatus;

Fig. 5 is another vertical sectional view of the apparatus taken asindicated bythe line 5-5 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a wiring diagram of the smoke producing display apparatus.

smoke producing A presently preferred form of construction in accordancewith the present invention comprises a small scale r model 10 of a homeof conventional design which is supported upon a box-like base 12. Thebase 12 is generally rectangular and has a bottom wall 14, a top wall 16and a plurality of vertical walls 18, 18. The model home 10 is supportedand built upon the top wall'16 of the base 12 and the said top wall ispreferably painted or otherwise artistically fabricated to duplicate ascenic lawn or yard where the model home 10 is the'principal structure.The smoke producing apparatus is housed within the base 12 and the smokeproduced thereby rises through a suitable opening provided in the topwall 16 and within the model home 10 so as to fiow outwardly through thewindow and door openings thereof.

The entire structure including the model building 10,

the base 12 and the smoke producing apparatus therein is of such sizethat it can conveniently be placed upon a table or desk top for displayand demonstration. As

preferred embodiment of the intrictimer motor 26. The lamp will ,beexplained in greater detail hereinafter, the operating apparatusincludes an electric lamp which when lighted creates the illusion thatthe model home is occupied and lighted from within. The aforedescribednormal condition will maintain for a selected time interval and thentiming mechanism forming a part of the smoke producing apparatusextinguishes the white light and lights a red lamp which creates theillusion of fire within the home. Means are incorporated in theapparatus to make the red or fire light flicker to enhance the illusionof fire and means are incorporated to produce smoke which rolls or flowsfrom the windows and other building openings during a timed period offire operation. The wiring circuit for the smoke producing and fireillusion apparatus is preferably arranged so that one electricadvertising sign can be lighted during the normal operation, and anothersign lighted during the fire period of the cycle.

As best shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 5, the smoke producing and fire illusionapparatus includes a box 20 which is supported on the bottom wall 14 ofthe base 12 adjacent the rear end thereof and the said box 20 provides asuitable mounting or fixture for a plurality of conventional electriclamps or bulbs 22 and 24 and for an elec- 22 is preferably white orproduces a white light and the lamp 24 is red or produces ared light andthe timer motor 26 is utilized to operate switch meansto energize thewhite light 22 during the normal" peroid of the cycle and to energizethe red lamp 24 during the fire period of the cycle. The

a timer motor 26 is of conventional construction and prefperiphery whichengages a spring erably comprises asynchronous motor. The switch 28which isoperated by the timer motor 26 is also conventional constructionand operates in the usual way to switch from the white lamp to the redlamp 24 as will be described. The timer motor 26 is connected with asuitable source of electrical energy through a pair of conductors L1 andL2 (Figs. 2 and 6) so that the timer motor 26 will in one of theconductors is closed or in the on position and whenever a normally openthermoresponsive switch 31 is closed as will be described hereinafter.

As best shown in Fig. 3, a cam 32 is secured to the shaft 34 of thetimer motor 26, the said cam having a tempered actuating arm 36 for theswitch 28. The periphery of the cam 32 is contoured to displace thespring arm 36 and place the switch 28 as shown in the wiring diagram ofFig. 6 against a contact 38 for normal operation to energize the whitelamp 22 or to place the switch in engagement with a contact 40 for fireoperation so as to energize the red lamp 24. The cam contour causes theswitch 28 to dwell for a selected period or timed interval against thecontact 38 for normal operation and to dwell against the contact 40 forfire operation during each revolution of the timer motor 26.

Inraddition to operating the switch 28 for movement between normal andfire positions, the cam 32 pivotally mounts one end of a connecting rod42 in the smoke producing mechanism best shown in Fig. 4. The said oneend of the connecting rod 4 2.is pivotally connected as by a pin 44 onthe cam plate 32 in eccentric relationship with the shaft 34of the timermotor 26. The other end of. the connecting rod 42 is bifurcated and ispivotally connected as indicated at 46 with a loading arm 48 which ispivotally supported between its ends by a vertical bracket 50 secured tothe bottom wall 14 of the loading arm 48.

A counterweight 52 is secured to one end of the loadoperate continuouslywhenever a start switch 30 disposeding arm 48 to balance the other endthereof which is adapted to pivotally support a loading'bucke't 54. Whenthe reciprocable connecting rod 42 is pushed in one direction to theextreme. point of its travel (.as shown in Fig. 3), the said other endof the loading arm and the bucket 54 are submerged in a tank 56containing the smoke pro ducing liquid solution 58, and when theconnecting rod 42 is thrust in the other direction to the extremity ofits travel (as shown in Fig. 4), the said other end of the loading arm48 is elevated so. that the bucket '54 can be tilted to spill itscontents into. a smoke producing heater as will be described.

It should be understood that while the preferred smoke producing medium58 is a liquid, other smoke producing material such as a powder may beused and the bucket 54 or its equivalent will pick up and transfer thepowder. The bucket 54 is gravity biased so that the contents will notinadvertently spill therefrom, but a string or the like 60 connected tothe vertical bracket 50 and. to the bucket 54 is arranged as shown to,tilt the bucket 54. when the said other end of the loading arm iselevated. Preferably, the bucket 54 is provided with a pouring spout 62to direct the flow of the contents therefrom onto an inclined trough 64which causes the smoke producing material to flow into a smoke.producing heater which will now be described.

The heater which is utilized to produce the smoke is of the electricalresistance type and comprises an elongated insulating body 66 which issupported in a substantially horizontal position as by a bracket 68secured to the bottom wall 14 of the base. One end of the body 66projects into the box 20 and has suitable electrical conductors 70, 70for connecting the heater in parallel with the timer motor 26 wherebythe heater is energized whenever the start switch 30 is closed or in theon position. An electrical resistance 72 (Fig. 6) is disposed at theother end of the body 66 and connected with the conductors 70, 70 and anopen vertical stack 74. is provided adjacent and around the resistance72. The. smoke producing liquid or other smoke producing material isintroduced through the top end of the vertical stack 74 by means of theinclined trough 64, the smoke producing liquid or material being adaptedto convert to a non-toxic smoke-like gas when heated. Preferably. thevertical stack 74 is provided with a fine mesh screen and other fiteringmaterial such as pummice powder to cause the few drops of liquidintroduced from the bucket 54 and trough 64 to seep into the heatingarea wherein it is converted to gas. Thus, during each revolution of thetimer motor 26 which causes one oscillation of the loading arm 48, asmall quantity of the smoke producing liquid is introduced to the smokeproducing heater to provide a relatively dense and dark cloud ofsmoke-like gas.

A generally cylindrical vertically disposed shield 76 surrounds thestack 74 in spaced relationship and extends thereabove to direct thesmoke upwards. The cylindrical shield 76 is supported by bracket means78 attached to the bottom wall 14 of the base 12, and a diffusing plate80 is supported by the shield 76' in spaced relationship thereover todiffuse the vertically rising column of smoke. Preferably, the top ofthe vertically disposed cylindrical shield 76 projects into the modelbuilding so that the smoke is diffused within the building and can tpourfrom all window openings and other openings provided therein.

Obviously, it would not be desirable to have the timer motor 26 inoperation to actuate the aforedescribed motion transmitting means whichfeeds the. smoke. producing substance to the heater unless and until theheater is energized and sufficiently hot. If the heater is not energizedand the smoke producing substance is continuously introduced thereto,spillage will occur, and if the substance is introduced to the heaterbefore it is sufficiently hot, the heater will become flooded and smokewill be produced during initial operation for more than the fire period.The thermoresponsive switch 31 is located in the circuit diagram asshown in Fig. 6 and is arranged to be closed only when the heaterresistance 72 is energized and is sufliciently hot. As shown in Figs. 2and 4, the switch 31 is of conventional construction and is supportedwithin the base 12 adjacent the heater body 66 on a bracket 67. Anactuating arm 69 for the switch 31 is engaged and operated by abimetallic arm or strip 71. The bimetallic strip 71 is secured as by abracket or clamp 73 to the heater body 66 so as to be responsive to the.heater temperature. The bimetallic strip 71 and the switch actuating arm69 are arranged so that the switch 31 will be closed at a preselected orpredetermined heater temperature and the switch 31 will be opened at apredetermined lesser temperature.

Thus, with the thermoresponsive switch 31 connected in the wiringcircuit as shown in Fig. 6, the timer motor 26 will be energized tostart the timed normal and fire periods of operation and to feed thesmoke producing substance to the heater only when the heater reaches asufiiciently high temperature. If the heater should burn out or becomeinoperative for any reason, the switch 31 will automatically be openedto deenergize the timer motor and the entire circuit.

As previously mentioned, it is desirable to have the red light flickerduring the fire period to enhance the illusion of fire and flames. Theflickering light is created by means of a fan-like shield 82 disposedwithin the base 10 over the red lamp 24 for rotation on a vertical axis.A motor 84 for driving and supporting the rotatable shield is mountedupon a bracket 86 extending from and secured to the box 20 in the rearof the base 12. As the shield 82 rotates over the red lamp 24, theblades thereof intermittently cut off the light projecting upwardly intothe model building 10 so as to cause the illusion of flickering light orflames.

As will be observed in the wiring diagram of Fig. 6, the light shieldmotor 84 is connected in parallel relationship with the red or fire lamp24. Thus, the motor 84 is energized and the light shield is rotatedduring the fire period of the cycle when the red lamp is burning. Itwill also be observed that another electrical lamp 88 is connected inparallel with the red lamp 24 and that still another lamp 90 isconnected in parallel with the white lamp 22. The lamps 88 and 90 arepreferably used to light advertising signs or the like, the lamp 88 andits sign being lighted during the fire period of the cycle while thelamp 90 and its sign are lighted during the normal period of the cycle.

It is, believed that a more detailed discussion or explanation of theoperation of the apparatus is unnecessary in view of the foregoingdescription of the elements thereof. From the foregoing description, itshould be readily apparent that when the start switch 30 is closed, thesmoke producing heater or resistor 72 is energized and after a timedelay while heat is produced, the thermoresponsive switch 31 is closedto energize the timer motor 26 which remains energized during the entireperiod of operation. During each revolution of the timer motor 26, theswitdh 28 is placed in engagement with the contact 38 for a timed periodto energize the white light 22, this being the period of the normaoperation. At the end of the said normal period, the timer motor 26places the switch 28 in engagement with the contact 40 to energize thered light 24 and the light flickering shield motor 84.

During continued operation of the apparatus, there is continuousswitching between timed periods of norma and fire operation. Theconnecting rod 42 for operating the loading arm 48 which carries thesmoke producing material to the heater is connected to the timing cam 32in such a position that the smoke producing material will be heated toproduce the smoke-like gas at the time the fire period commences orshortly thereafter. The timing is such and the amount of smoke producingsubstance submitted to the heater is limited so that the smoke willdissipate at or shortly after the end of the e period when the red lightis extinguished.

Thus, the smoke producing apparatus will continue to operate for longperiods 01 time without repair or maintenance. In order to assureoperation for a desirably long period of time, a supply bottle 92 of thesmoke producing substance 58 may be provided, preferably externally ofthe base 12, and connected as by a tube 94 with the internally disposedtank 56. The only maintenance necessary after long periods of useconsists of refilling or replacing the supply bottle 92.

The invention claimed is:

1. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising an electric motor connectible with a powersource, an electrical resistance heater connectible with said source, anelectric lamp for providing a red light for simulating fire within thebuilding, circuit means connecting the said lamp with the source andincluding a switch adapted to energize and to de-energize the lamp, arotatable cam operated by said motor and engaging said switch toenergize and to de-energize the lamp during each revolution of the cam,and means for introducing a substance to the heater whereby to produce asmoke-like gas, the said means comprising a movable loader associatedwith the heater and motion transmitting means connecting the loader withthe motor so as to introduce a quantity 'of the substance to the heaterin timed relationship to operation of the lamp.

2. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising an electrical motor connectible with a powersource, an electrical resistance heater connectible with said source, anelectric lamp for providing a red light for simulating fire within thebuilding, circuit means connecting the said lamp with the source andincluding a switch adapted to energize and to de-energize the lamp, arotatable cam operated by said motor and engaging said switch toenergize and to deenergize the lamp during each revolution of the cam,and means for introducing a substance to the heater whereby to produce asmoke-like gas, the said means comprising a movable loader operativelyassociated with the heater and motion transmitting means connecting theloader with the rotatable cam so as to introduce a quantity of thesubstance to the heater during each revolution of the cam and in timedrelationship to operation of the lamp.

3. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising an electric motor connectible with a powersource, an electrical resistance heater connectible with said source, anelectric lamp for providing a red light for simulating fire within thebuilding, circuit means connecting the said lamp with the source andincluding a switch adapted to energize and to de-energize the lamp, arotatable cam operated by said motor and engaging said switch toenergize and to deenergize the lamp during each revolution of the cam,and

means for introducing a substance to the heater whereby to produce asmoke-like gas, the said means comprising a tank for containing aquantity of the substance, a loading bucket for lifting a portion of thesubstance from the tank and 'for dropping it into the heater, apivotable loading arm supporting said bucket, and motion transmittingmeans connecting said motor with said loading arm to introduce aquantity of the substance to the heater during each revolution of thecam and in timed relationship to operation of the lamp.

4. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising an electric motor connectible with a powersource, an electrical resistance heater connectible with said source, anelectric lamp for providing a red light for simulating fire within thebuilding, circuit means connecting the said lamp with the source andincluding a switch adapted to energize and to d e-energize the lamp, asecond electric motor connected in said circuit means in parallelrelationship with said lamp, a rotatable light shield disposed over saidlamp and rotatable by said second electric motor whereby to cause thelight within the building to flicker and thereby to enhance the illusionof fire within the building, a rotatable cam operated by the first motorand engaging said switch to energize and to de-energize the lamp duringeach revolution of the cam, and means for introducing a substance to theheater whereby to produce a smoke-like gas, the said means comprising atank for containing a quantity of the substance, a loading bucket forlifting a portion of the substance from the tank and for dropping itinto the heater, :a pivotable loading arm supporting said bucket, andmotion transmitting means connecting said first motor with said loadingarm to introduce a quantity of the substance to the heater during eachrevolution of the cam and in timed relationship to operation of the amp.

5. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising an electric motor connectible with a powersource, an electrical resistance heater connectible with said source, anelectric lamp for providing a red light for simulating fire within thebuilding, circuit means connecting the said lamp with the source andincluding a switch adapted to energize and to de-energize the lamp, arotatable cam operated by said motor and engaging said switch toenergize and to deenergize the lamp during each revolution of the cam,and means for introducing a substance to the heater whereby to produce asmoke-like gas, said means comprising a tank for containing a quantityof the substance, a loading bucket for lifting a portion of thesubstance from the tank and for dropping it into the heater, a pivotableloading arm supporting said bucket, and a connecting arm between saidcam and said loading arm capable of generally reciprocable movementwhich is translated to oscillating movement of the loading arm wherebyto introduce a quantity of the substance to the heater during eachrevolution of the cam and in timed relationship to operation of thelamp.

6. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising a first electric motor connectible with a powersource, an electrical resistance heater connectible with said source, anelectric lamp for providing a red light for simulating fire within thebuilding, a circuit means connecting the said lamp with the source andincluding a switch adapted to energize and to de-energize the lamp, asecond electric motor connected in parallel relationship with said lamp,a rotatable light shield disposed over the lamp and rotatable by thesecond electric motor to cause the light to flicker within the buildingand further to enhance the illusion of fire, a rotatable cam operated bysaid first motor and engaging said switch to de-energize and to energizethe lamp during each revolution of the cam, and means for introducing asubstance to the heater whereby to produce a smoke-like gas, the saidmeans comprising a tank for containing a quantity of the substance, aloading bucket for lifting a portion of the substance from the tank andfor dropping it into the heater, a pivotable loading arm supporting saidbucket, and motion transmitting means connecting said first motor withsaid loading arm to introduce a quantity of the substance to the heaterduring each revolution of the cam and in timed relationship to operationof the lamp.

7. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising a first electric motor connectible with a powersource, a pair of electric lamps one of which provides a normal whitelight within the building and the other of which provides a red lightfor simulating fire within the building, circuit means connecting thesaid pair of lamps with the power source, and including a switchoperable in one position to energize one of the lamps and in anotherposition to energize the other lamp, a second electric motor connectedin parallel relationship with said other lamp, a

rotatable light shield disposed over said 'otherlamp and rotatable bysaid second electric motor to cause the light from the second lamptoflicker and thereby enhance the illusion of fire within the building,a rotatable cam operated by said first motor and engaging said switch toplace the same in said one and other positions in sequence, and meansfor producing a smoke-like gas during operation of said other lamp, saidmeans comprising an electrical resistance heater connected in parallelrelationship with said first motor, a tank for containing a quantity ofa substance capable of producing a smoke-like gas when subjected toheat, a loading bucket for lifting a portion of the substance from thetank and for dropping it into the heater, a pivotable loadingarmsupporting said bucket, and motion transmitting means connecting saidcam with said loading arm to oscillate the same and thereby to introducea quantity of the substance to the heaterduring each revolution of thecam and in timed relationship to operation of the said other lamp.

8. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising an electric'motor connectible with a powersource, a electric lamp for providing a red light for simulating firewithin the building, circuit means connecting the said lamp with thepower source and including a switch adapted to energize and de-energizethe lamp, a rotatable cam operated by said motor and engaging saidswitch to energize and to deenergize the lamp during each revolution ofthe cam, and means for producing a smoke-like gas within the modelbuilding for passage outwardly through the windows and doors thereof,the said means comprising a container provided with a supply of asubstance which pro- 8 duces a smoke-like gas when heated and anelectrical resistance heater connectible'with the power source forheating portions of the supply of gas producing substance intermittentlyand in timed relation with energization of said lamp.

9. Apparatus for creating the illusion of fire within a display modelbuilding and comprising an electric motor connectible with a powersource, an electric lamp for providing a red light for simulating firewithin the building, circuit means connecting the said lamp with thepower source and including a switch adapted to energize and de-energizethe lamp, a rotatable cam operated by said motor and engaging saidswitch to energize and to de-energize the lamp during each revolution ofthe cam, means operatively associated with said lamp and causing thelight therefrom to flicker whereby to enhance the illusion of firewithin the building, and means for producing a smoke-like gas within themodel building for passage outwardly through the Windows and doorsthereof, the said means comprising a container provided with a supply ofa substance which produces a smoke-like gas when heated and anelectrical resistance heater connectible with the power source forheating portions of the supply of gas producing substance intermittentlyand in timed relation with energization of said lamp.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS450,615- Delany Apr. 21, 1891 469,652 Jennings Feb. 23, 1892 1,795,004Archer Mar. 3, '1931

